Feedback from Mario Arqué (Spain) about Genesis
Translated to English review from Mario Arqué about Genesis
https://www.facebook.com/mario.arque.3/posts/839132849578570
Nearbirds Genesis
A new hammock cocoon harness, with double rescue, from Ukrainian manufacturer Nearbirds, produced in Poland.
It is a harness fairing for crossing and competitions. It comes with separate places for two rescue, one in side position, at the base of the back, behind and under the seat and the other one in frontal position. It doesn`t have a board, but the seat is quite stiff and soft (with a thick cushion in the center). It has a foam protector 15cm thick, with a system of progressive deflation that increases amortization. The front part of the cocoon is made of lycra, which is very light and elastic. The footboard is made of plywood, the inflatable rear part of the cocoon is large and shaped like a fin. It is inflated with two side windows and takes a central rod to the end to tighten the rear part of the fin, in addition to internal ribs to keep the sides flat. The cocoon rises above the shoulders of a pilot and the whole harness envelops the body of a pilot resulting in a very aerodynamic semblance.
The most original and unique part of this harness is its central pillar, a very padded and stiff piece that has two functions: on one hand it protects the genitals of the pilot in the phase of takeoff and landing, but in the flight, its vertical position also holds the weight of the frontal emergency rescue (or ballast if it’s not used with a rescue), it also holds all instruments, that lean on this pillar so that their weight doesn`t rest on the thighs of a pilot, which retain all the freedom of movement. In addition, the hammock has a padded central area to support the buttocks, which increases comfort and also the front area to support your thighs up to the level of the knees. It’s narrow, anatomical and makes a good aerodynamical section.
At the front bottom part, it has a container for ballast, which is secured with a tightening strap and a triangle of fabric so that it can not move.
The KONG locking device
Another original novelty is the Kong closing device, that helps to fix and release the anchorage of the ventral emergency rescue quickly, so it’s much easier and quicker to tie the chair or untie it to get out of it. This Italian locking device is a special kind of a hook made of duraluminium with two buttons and two big claws (that can be used with one hand). It can hold 2.500 kg and is quick and easy to use, part of one of the two main carabiners and is next to the rescue container, to which a lined and well protected loop is hooked, that is one of the two parts of the tape and of the rescue. The other one is fixed to another carabiner and shouldn`t be released every time. This metal locking device is wrapped in neoprene.
The rescue from under the seat has a conventional V-belt to the shoulder pads of a pilot.
Frontal package
The frontal instrument container is in a perfect position, it’s inclined, big and very visible. The rescue handle is in central position and can be pulled forward with either hand. The front part of the frontal container is an aerodynamic deflector, that nicely follows the oncoming wind flow line on the sitting. On the sides, semi-rigid fragments are situated, which stabilize the position of a frontal package.
Zip fasteners
The V-belt of the main rescue is hidden in a closed place with a zipper extending from the shoulder to the lower side, serving ultimately to properly lock the outer container of the rescue itself. This zipper also serves as the lid of the container and placement for the V-belt. In addition, a flap with some Velcro puts the finishing touches to the aerodynamics of the sitting and refines it.
The locking device and the handle of the rescue is very simple. It’s just a hook pin. The zipper, that was mentioned before, opens only from its open end when one pulls the rescue pack and the handle is put with magnets in its place. Besides it comes with one hook, to minimize the use of Velcro.
Equipment
In addition to the double rescue container, it has a few generous side pockets. They’re perfect to carry thick mittens, a selfie-monopod, a digital camera, a sandwich, etc. It also has a small container made of neoprene on a shoulder pad to have radio close to the neck and use it without microphone, to lower volume, etc. On the other shoulder pad, there’s a handlebar for hydration tube.
The harness comes with its accelerator installed. It’s made of flexible double strips (two pedals) and has some very big pulleys with bearings (but without ratchet) in the hip, besides the other small guide pulley at the end of the sides of the sitting. The pedal always stays in place, because of an elastic band that is united to the board. To take a backpack and some water to drink, inside the fairing rear there’s another internal bag attached to the body.
Front cocoon cone easily inflates with the oncoming wind and the rear part of the cocoon has two Crescent-shaped windows, to reduce their volume in transportation, these windows are closed by a small Velcro and nozzles stay flat to transport the sitting and to not damage its stiff part. Everything about the sitting is stylish , original and it is simply very well thought out, although sometimes it seems quite convoluted for the different amount of other known solutions. Folded it isn’t very bulky or rigid.
Adjustments
Because the sitting is a hammock, it has a lot of regulations to nicely adjust the shape. The footboard can be adjusted in its four corners with a few lines and small metal wires (like a tent). It can all be done quickly and easily. The closing device of the cocoon is made of magnet and it adjusts and regulates with the side tension of the closing cord and the turnbuckle and other side adjustments. Everything combined allows to leave the cocoon tight, clean and nicely closed on the right top angle of the edge, forming a tube squared in its upper part and leaving the surface smooth till the deflector of the frontal container.
Other adjustments of the sitting are regular, some of them can even be made while flying, some adjustments can only be made before the flight. 11 locking devices
Lets count ten elements, that need to be closed to fly. Only three of them are essential, only two are vital and can compromise safety:
• Each of two ventral locking devices, since the leg loops are in V-H shape, with the new light locking devices made of duraluminium by Finsterwalder, that can be found in other light harnesses on the market. A bolt passes through a large hole, moves to one side by a smaller hole, and a red button with an internal spring prevents it from returning to the previous position and getting out. It doesn’t have problems or risks of malfunction or opening in flight, detected in other types of automatic closing devices, and doesn`t require anti-forgetting tape straps, because the leg loops and the frontal lock are in one piece.
• The third mandatory mooring is the Kong anchorage on one side of the frontal rescue. Although without tying it, we would still have the lower anchor correctly secured and an anchorage in the frontal position. So, for 100% only two closures are needed, all the others, serve only to fit and fix the elements of the chair, mainly the frontal elements. Let's review them all in the order of placement.
1 and 2 – Close both quick light locking devices of the frontal .
3 – A trident sets the frontal package on the central pylon.
4 – Find on the left side inside the cocoon of the legs (not in the field of vision) a small plastic trident at the end of a blue cord that passes through a pulley and makes the tensor of the fairing and fix it to the right flap of the fairing. Then we go up.
5 – Lock the King closing device for the frontal rescue.
6 and 7 – Close right side seals to secure the entire rescue container in place.
Thank you Mario for your feedback :)
